Legalizing Marijuana in the State of Texas

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Should Texas Legalize Marijuana?
Many states in America are on the road to legalizing marijuana, a move that has elicited opinions from opponents and proponents. Among the states that have voted on the legalization of marijuana for recreational use are Colorado and Washington. Although many Americans support the legal sale of marijuana, many effects may arise from its use. Texas should not yet legalize recreational marijuana until they extensively research its consequences, based on statistics from the states that have voted on legalization.
The unclear legislative laws on the legalization of marijuana are a sign that Texas is not ready for its legalization. There is no precise method of differentiating legal from illegal marijuana, making it more challenging to prosecute possession. The lawmakers proposed that marijuana with a concentration of below 0.3 percent of the active ingredient (THC) is legal, and anything above that concentration is illegal. However, the unavailability of equipment to determine THC concentration in cannabis makes it hard to detect illegal marijuana. The state-owned labs also are incapable of determining the concentrations, making it hard to prosecute possessions. As suggested by the Texas District and County Attorneys Association, the only feasible way to make prosecutions is for all agencies across the state to purchase the equipment, which is quite expensive (Barajas). The lack of defined laws surrounding the legalization of marijuana has led to variations in how judges handle the charges. Punishments for cannabis possession are harsher in some counties than in others. The penalties vary with where officers catch the offender. For instance, Hays County has more strict rules and continues to prosecute minor pot cases. On the other hand, Harris County has lenient laws and implemented laws to free marijuana offenders without a criminal record. 
In some states like Colorado, there have been public health concerns regarding the use of marijuana. Cases of driving under the influence of the substance have been on the rise, posing a danger to road users. In addition, hospitalizations related to excessive use of marijuana have increased. Some states have also witnessed toxicities that have been fatal due to the use of recreational marijuana (Denham 80). A study in Colorado schools indicated that ind...